Dancing Queen

Song Review
by Donald A. Guarisco

"Dancing Queen" helped ABBA achieve another massive international hit by bending the group's signature blend of pop hooks and European influences to the popular disco sound of the day. The lyrics concern themselves with a visit to a discotheque but approach the subject from a different tack: instead of focusing exclusively on discotheque mating rituals, the lyrics concern themselves with the joy of dancing itself. Thus, the song has a greater element of emotional content than many disco tunes: the chorus may be filled with then-hip phrases like "dig it" and "you can jive," but its key lyrical hook is "having the time of your life." "Dancing Queen" also benefits from a sophisticated melody that builds from languid yet seductive verses to a dramatic chorus that ascends to heart-tugging high notes as the lyrics reach their emotional peak. The result is a song whose sincerity and sheer musicality have allowed it to outlast the disco boom and become a standard of dance-pop. As a result, "Dancing Queen" has become an enduring standard for dance divas as diverse as Carol Douglas and Kylie Minogue. Even U2 fell under the song's spell when they performed a dazzling, stripped-down version the song during their tours in the mid-'90s. However, ABBA's version remains the definitive take on "Dancing Queen": Andersson's keyboard lines accentuate the classical complexity of the melody and Ulvaeus and Andersson weave countless instrumental hooks (string riffs, stately keyboard runs, and swirling synth lines, to name a few) in and out of the mix that layer the tune without ever weighing it down. The grandiose arrangement is topped off by the powerful vocals of Agnetha Faltskog and Frida Lyngstad's vocals, who negotiate the melody's many turns flawlessly and sing their hearts out on the chorus. The end product became the group's first American chart-topper and remains a favorite at dance clubs today. The enduring popularity of this production proves that Ulvaeus and Andersson were as astute in the producer's chair as they were at penning pop hits.